2021/09/14

4. The Ancient Serpent

The dragon in the Book of Revelation is described as a great dragon, the ancient serpent, which is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. The dragon is a mythical creature, and it is difficult to identify who it is because the words "the devil" and "Satan" are vague. However, since John wrote "the ancient serpent", I assume each refers to the serpent mentioned in Genesis 3. The serpent here is not a real serpent, judging from God's words: "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals" (Genesis 3:14). I think the serpent here is the information that eventually arose accidentally among the same species as the number of creatures increased according to the word of God, "Be fruitful and multiply." This information may have acted like knowledge in their brains and led to gradual evolution. Nowadays, it is known that not only cattle and beasts but even trees and plants transmit information to each other. This kind of information gives us always comfort and healing. The accidentally arising information also occurred between the man and the woman created in the beginning. And it developed rapidly. I suppose when this information overcame their memory that had been retaining God's command, they took and ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which God had commanded them not to eat. From this time on, the accidental information that happened among people became the most cursed above all cattle and all wild animals.

Reference: The Estuary of Theology issue 11, "The Work of Man (the Serpent)".

Maria K. M.